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I have the Saint Croix 7 ft extra fast panfish rod. I use 10LB Berkley braid with either a 4lb or 6lb leader. I tie a very small improved Albright knot to connect the main line with the leader. The connecting knot always gets hung up on the tip guide and I get very little distance on my casts. The diameter of the Tip guide is very small. Does anyone else have this problem or does anyone have a way to correct my problem? Thanks much, Pop
Pop, I shortened my leader to avoid the knot getting nicked by the eye. I use a St. Croix 2 wt. for panfish.
I use a uni to unit knot and do not experience that.I trim the tag ends super close. I use 20lb power pro and 8# mono. I do not have that exact rod though and wonder if it has a really small tip eye? You might consider changing just the tip if it does. I like using a three or four foot leader or so starting out . If it gets down to 2ft or so I change it. I want to be able to throw the knot through the guides myself. I keep experimenting to see if my catch rate is affected by direct tieing and for me it is...I have to use leader or I do not catch as many, but that is just me. I know there are people who say that fish and wildlife had to change the regs for them because they were catchin so many tying directly to the lure. Course if somethings to easy for me somethings wrong I know cause I was born with the gift of a hard way to go LOL.
St Croix website says they use Pac Bay Minima guides on that series rod, but they don't say if they're "micro guides" ..... just (lighter weight) non-ceramic ring guides.
I have the same problem with my ESP rods ... their micro guides won't allow much of a knot, or most bobber stops, to pass thru the tip guide without totally hanging up or causing a serious decrease in distance.
If I was using a knot that wouldn't pass thru the tip ... I'd opt for a different knot, rather than take the chance on changing the action of the rod by replacing the tip with a larger diameter one. Either that or go with no leader & tie direct, or switch the braid out for mono, copoly, or fluorocarbon line. :twocents
This ^^^^^Quote:
Originally Posted by CrappiePappy
Check out the Red Phillips knot. Its essentially half of a uni/uni with the half butted against a simple overhand knot.
Very small and very strong.
If it is NOT a micro guide, I'd switch the tip out to a larger diameter one. Most of your last guide eyes (before the tip) on a "non Micro" are somewhere around 4 to 8mm. The average size tiptop (ID) is 6mm.
If it DOES have micro guide eyes, I would change it out with a Fly rod tip top slightly larger than the one it currently has. Fly rod tops will get down with a smaller ID.
Changing the top top diameter isn't going to have that much (if any) felt effect on the rod or it's action. Many ways to skin a cat from changing your connecting knot, shortening it up, changing your line, to changing the top. You have options.
Thanks for the replies. I would say the guides are mini. I doubt there is a smaller knot than what I tied. smaller and flatter than a bobber stop knot. I think the best answer is to switch the line to mono. I am currently tying straight to the Berkley fire line. Thanks again, Pop
I have several rods with very small eyes, especially the tip tops. I use braid with a fluorocarbon leader connected with an Alberto knot. Have never had an issue with this knot going through the guides. The Alberto is not really a knot, but a braid of both lines into one small, long knot. Clipped close this knot will go through any guide.
I changed to the Alberto because I didn't like the "clicking" the Uni-Uni knot made in going through the guides. Since then, no problems, no worries. :)
I have a couple St Croix Panfish Series rods, and I must say they are "excellent" for Panfish and Crappie!Quote:
Originally Posted by CrappiePappy
The guides are small and super light ----- that's exactly what you want! Big heavy guides take away from the action of a UL rod. Soon, all rods will only use these tiny guides?
I never have a problem with knots! When I use flourocarbon, I use a Uni (12 turn with the super line) and a 6 turn with the Flouro or Mono. Why in the world would you want a leader over 3' anyway? Actually, you don't really need a leader at all! Try the new "stealth" braids ------ simply wonderful!
Practice a 12 turn "Uni" knot, it will never break again! All these new "super lines" and "super small" guides are a beautiful thing!
You will catch a lot more fish and have more fun doing it!
Another vote for the Alberto knot-- amazing
Well don't I feel foolish. I thought I was tying an improved Albright knot, but after watching some utube videos, I have been tying the alberto knot. Pop
Maybe not so foolish. I also just watched some utube videos tying the improved Albright knot. I think they are the same knot under different names. Pop
The red Phillips knot is the best that I have found. I use nanofil on one of my bass rigs and the knot flies through the guides. I loose less fish with a leader, it gives a little more cushion.Quote:
Originally Posted by yobuck
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use light mono unless you are after whales and then if you use the braid tie direct to the jig .....
thats my 2 cents and i have tested about everything you can possibly imagine for panfish
The smallest-diameter braid-to-leader knot is the FG knot. Nothing sticks out to catch a guide. Multiple how-to videos on youtube.
I finally got my hands on the 7' Xtra fast light panfish model today. I liked the handle and action but it was way more tip heavy than I thought it would be.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by split handle
+1 FG Knot is the stuff.